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It was a fantastic afternoon for Exeter City as they returned to winning ways in emphatic style with a convincing 5-1 thrashing of Notts County, much to the delight of manager Matt Taylor and the fans alike.

It was certainly an entertaining game at St James Park with Pierce Sweeney also missing a penalty and new County boss Harry Kewell shown a red card in his first league game in charge of the Magpies.

But what were the big positives and negatives from Saturday’s five-star performance?

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WORK-RATE

Jake Taylor of Exeter City battles for the ball with Enzio Boldewijn of Notts County during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Exeter City and Notts County at St James Park, Exeter, Devon on September 8. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

The foundation for Saturday’s fine win, for me, was the work-rate of the Grecians and their work without the ball as they refused to let County settle, were in their faces and still chasing and harassing their opponents late on the game.

As Matt Taylor said afterwards, though, it is easy to do it when you are 5-1 up and the points are in the bag, but to be fair to the Grecians, it started long before that. And once their noses were in front, you could see the confidence ooze throughout the team.

Credit to that should really go to Jordan Tillson, who set the tone from the first minute. He was the only City player that was really on his game in the opening quarter of an hour or so and it was only after Sweeney had nodded City in front that the Grecians really began to play.

Not Tillson, though. He was on it from the moment the whistle blew and after such an impressive performance at Yeovil as well, he showed once again why he is such a useful member of this Grecians squad.

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TAYLOR’S TACTICS

Matt Taylor, manager of Exeter City, during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Exeter City and Notts County at St James Park, Exeter, Devon on September 8. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

Speaking to my counterpart from the Nottingham Post before the game, he expressed concerns about County at centre half and in central midfield, believing they had failed to sufficiently strengthen in that area of the pitch over the summer.

It was therefore interesting to then see City’s line-up where Taylor baulked his midfield with Tillson at the anchor and Nicky Law, Jake Taylor and Hiram Boateng given more freedom to express themselves – and Taylor’s tactics worked an absolute treat.

Boateng had his best game for some time, Tillson got through so much dirty work and was always well positioned to enable his team-mates to do their thing and Law got better and better as the game wore on, culminating in his low cross for Stockley to notch the fourth goal.

Stockley occupied the two centre halves and led the line superbly well and it seemed as though that area of weakness was identified by City as well and ruthlessly exploited.

LEE HOLMES ON FIRE

Exeter City player Lee Holmes applauds the travelling fans during the Skybet League Two Match between Morecambe and Exeter City at The Globe Arena, Morecambe on August 11 - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK

There is no doubting that, on his day, Lee Holmes is as good as any winger in League Two, perhaps even higher.

Last season, his skill, trickery and delivery were missed as the Grecians chased automatic promotion and this campaign, his performances have been somewhat subdued as he has struggled to make the kind of impact he is capable of.

But on Saturday, he was back to his best, tormenting both left-back and right-back, depending on which wing he popped up on. He ran at pace, showing typically good ball control, he linked play well and he came close to a superb goal in the second half, only to be denied by a fingertip save. However, his work-rate and tracking back were also exemplary and typical of City’s team performance.

Holmes is still yet to complete 90 minutes, as he was taken off in the final minute, but it was more so the fans could give him the ovation he deserved after a terrific performance which went some way towards City’s fine win.

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TWO DOWN

SWEENEY SPURNS HIS CHANCE

Man of the Match Pierce Sweeney of Exeter City, with his friends after the game, following the Sky Bet League 2 match between Exeter City and Notts County at St James Park, Exeter, Devon on September 8. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

It was quite the afternoon for City’s popular Irishman who, for me at least, has been excellent this season and improving further on his performances last year, which earned him the award for most improved player at City’s end of season gala dinner.

Sweeney’s header opened the scoring and really settled the Grecians down and he then made it 3-1 from the penalty spot with a typically clinical penalty following a handball by Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Incredibly, he then had a hat-trick chance, following a second handball. A maiden hat-trick for the right-back seemed certain, but he dragged his penalty wide of goal with every City fan inside the ground willing him to notch an incredible treble.

It is not often right-backs score hat-tricks and the chance may never present itself again. But Sweeney went some way to making up for it by delivering a beauty of a cross in stoppage time for Martin to score his first goal.

It also didn’t stop him from earning the man of the match award where there was much banter in the sponsors’ bar post-match when he was being interviewed by Giles Ashman and a few of his friends, who had made a surprise trip over from Ireland to see him, were in attendance.

Sweeney celebrates his 24 birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Sweenz.

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INJURIES

Former Exeter City Player Ollie Watkins watches Exeter City's League Two clash with Notts County alongside the injured Troy Brown at St James Park, Exeter, Devon on September 8. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

If Sweeney’s missed hat-trick opportunity was more a disappointment than a negative, then injuries to two key men most definitely is a negative to take from the weekend and what is concerning is that we don’t know just how serious they are right now.

Troy Brown was forced to miss the game due to a knee injury and given that he missed so much of last season and the season before for the same reason, then that will be of obvious concern to Matt Taylor.

Injuries are part and parcel of the game, of course, but for Brown, it seems to be a recurring issue with his knees. One can only hope it is nothing serious and he is back on the pitch soon because, as we all know, the Grecians are a far better team with the 27-year-old in it.

Exeter City 5 Notts County 1

Shortly after half-time, Craig Woodman also limped off. Woodman, who turns 36 in December, rarely lets the team down and Taylor was pleased with what he saw from the left-back before his enforced substitution.

It seems his injury is the less serious of the two, but neither will be welcomed by Taylor, even if the likes of Dean Moxey, Luke Croll and Dara O’Shea have proved to be capable replacements.